People that are plagued with dental phobia (Dentophobia) may take comfort in the fact that it is a fairly common diagnosable mental condition. At least they know they are not alone and that the medical community takes it seriously.

Phobias like Pteromerhanophobia: (the fear of flying) and Acrophobibia (the fear of heights) can be challenging, but a person can live a perfectly healthy life without getting on a 747 or riding an elevator to the top of the Chrysler Building.

A person who suffers from dental phobia or dental anxiety is at risk of falling into a vicious cycle of worsening oral health.

Fear causes the person to abstain from dental checkups for years. When a minor dental problem (like a little cavity) advances until it taps a nerve and causes pain, the patient is forced to visit the dentist.

At this point, the needed treatment is a major procedure (possibly an extraction followed by a dental implant). The treatment reinforces the dental phobia and, once again, the patient stays away from the dentist’s office. That’s how some men and women end up losing teeth at a relatively young age.

Experts believe that the frequency of dental phobia may be as high as one in four people. Are you one of them?

At Hereford Dental Health – Craig Longenecker DDS, we want to help uneasy patients successfully overcome or at least manage their trepidation so they can withstand twice-yearly checkups and cleanings. Preventive dentistry is the most effective way to protect teeth and gums.

If you haven’t had a dental checkup in a while, please schedule a consultation. You can meet with Dr. Longenecker about the many options available including behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and conscious sedation (sleep dentistry).

If you dread going to the dentist, there is hope. At Hereford Dental Health – Craig Longenecker DDS, we have successfully treated many patients just like you. We invite you to set up a consultation today.

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Hereford Dental Health, home of Monkton dentist Dr. Craig Longenecker, proudly offers exceptional family dentistry, restorative and cosmetic dentistry, TMJ treatment, dental implants, and so much more to patients in and around northern Baltimore County including the communities of Hereford, Monkton, Parkton, White Hall, Freeland, Sparks, Jacksonville, Sparks Glencoe, Upperco, Glyndon, Cockeysville, Phoenix and Towson, MD and Shrewsberry and New Freedom, PA.